Category Archives: Gardening

Major Weigh Down #6

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I know my followers thought I surely had fallen off the weigh down wagon and let it run over me.  Shame on you !!!  LOL

Actually, I have been involved in several projects and have not really had an opportunity to post  an update in quite some time.  My weigh down journey  at times has been a roller coaster ride and not an easy task. I seem to be on the down part of the roller coaster ride and am beginning to see a weight loss again. Since I began my major weigh down journey I have lost 43 lbs. It has been slow and not easy. Slow and easy will carry me to my goal and hopefully make my long term success  greater and permanent .  I have begun to see more energy and mobility return to my life. Thank you for your encouragement and I will continue to work toward my goal and hope not to disappoint my family, my followers, my friends nor myself.

As I mentioned I have been working on some projects. I am sharing links below with you to my projects.

Natural foods become more readily available

raspberries

Fall is here. Farmers are clearing out their gardens. Farmers markets are wrapping up their season for the year. Normally this would mean our natural, organic, locally grown and fresh garden vegetables come to a end until next growing season. This year this will not necessarily be true. Fresh and natural vegetables will be available all winter.

In the past it was difficult to locate a store that offered natural foods. When you did find one the foods were so pricey it was hard to work them into your budget. Finally in the last few months more of the well known grocery stores have added NATURAL FOOD SECTIONS. YEA!!! The demand for natural foods has finally been heard. Natural foods will always remain higher priced than non-natural foods. However there is now competition for natural food sales. This should slowly bring the prices down making it easier for people to afford healthier eating. Store owners once believed eating natural foods was a fad and it would pass. They felt there was no need to invest in an expansion of a natural section. They now see it is not a fad. It is the norm as more people are taking their health into their own hands. They also see that people are seeing the connection between good health and natural foods. They noticed the increase in the past few years of money being spent on natural foods. Natural food sales has increased over the last 5-7 years. Sales are now reaching over 630 billion dollars. Money always talks. The larger stores want a piece of that business.

Preserving For the Winter

squash small

As the summer of 2012 comes closer to the end so does my weekly trips to the farmers market. My weekly visits will be put on hold until summer of 2013. Putting vegetables on hold is not quite as easy as putting a date on a calendar. However it is not very difficult either. This is the time of year to preserve for the winter. Preserved fresh, locally grown and organically grown vegetables will taste much better this winter than the ones you find in the freezer section of your grocery. Not to mention the self satisfaction of knowing you have done the best you can for your family. I like to freeze some squash for squash casserole, stewed squash and squash puppies. (Squash puppies are delicious with beans, chili, soups, leafy greens or fish. You just add grated squash to your favorite hush puppy recipe.) I also try to freeze some okra for stewing or baking. I like to can some squash relish and some jellies to share with family and friends. I have gotten my squash relish canned and that is all. I am behind this year and I will need to get to work over the next few weeks to catch up.

Gluten and celiac disease

wheat

Have you noticed the changes in our food over the last few years? Over 50 years ago people grew their own food or purchased it from a neighbor. People worked hard in the fields pulling weeds and chopping weeds with a hoe. They did not use poisons as freely as today. They watered from springs only when they had to. They waited for rain if at all possible. Over the years our food has lost so much of its valuable health benefits. Now crops are heavily sprayed with pesticides and fertilizers. Special chemicals are put on our vegetables to make them larger. The days have passed where the weeds are pulled or chopped out. Weed killer is now sprayed on a regular basis.

Even the wheat grown today is different. We have to have hybrid or super charged grain. Why can’t we just have regular grain for our bread? Our wheat has been altered so much that it is not healthy anymore. Wheat now spikes your sugar level worse than actual sugar. This has been caused by crossbreeding plants and trying to make super grain.

The change in wheat has caused other issues as well. One being the increase in gluten. Years ago wheat only contained about 3% gluten. In recent years this has increased to 50%. This is caused from the production of hybrid wheat. Hybrid wheat was introduced into our lives because of the high yield, meaning more money at the cost of the health benefits. The overload of gluten is bringing with it many health issues such as constant inflammation, digestion problems and many autoimmune diseases.

7 warnings from 7 specialist about 7 foods

Potatoes

If  you follow my blog you know I enjoy natural and homegrown foods. I feel like these are the healthiest foods to eat.  Sometimes it is scary to read or hear about the chemicals and artificial ingredients in our food. Food  scientist are beginning to really speak out in a negative way about several of the foods we eat. In order to protect our bodies and health we all need to pay attention to what we are eating. Listen when someone in the know speaks about the dangers in our food and environment.

The less processing our food goes through the better for our health. Eating raw vegetables and fruits is healthiest foods to eat. Eating organically grown vegetables and fruits is always the best choice.

I would like to bring to your attention 7 warnings  from 7 specialist about  7 foods that we all should avoid.  These 7 foods been researched and studied by 7  people that spend their time uncovering foods we should and should not eat. They study what chemicals, pesticides, hormones , fertilizers and the act of processing does to our food.

Local Farmers Markets

We all have been known to search out grocery stores that offer organic foods. Did you know the best place in the summer to get not only organically grown foods, but locally grown organic foods, is at your LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS. 

Pitty Pat Squash All in one Dinner

One of my favorite things to do on Saturday Morning, during the months of May-Sept.  is to go to our local  farmers Market for fresh vegetables.  This past Saturday on a visit there, I found a new squash called  “Pitty Pat Squash”

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